Merrimack fills Santa’s sleigh

Merrimack College has run a successful toy drive this Christmas through the Hands to Help program and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, to make sure many children in Lawrence, Mass. have a happy yuletide this year.

“This year we received 367 toys” and counting, said Alisha Reppucci, the director of community outreach and special projects for the Office of Mission and Student Affairs.

Most of the toys were donated during the college’s Christmas party held at Boston Public Library Dec. 4. However, new unwrapped toys for children up to 16 years old can be donated and dropped off at the Office of Mission and Student Affairs on the third floor of the Sakowich Campus Center until Dec. 16.

“We are doing this because there are people in need and we want to make sure they have a special Christmas,” Reppucci said. “A lot of people were onboard with this and we want to make sure we reach as many children as possible and give them as many toys as we can collect.”

Donors have been extremely generous with gifts, including a Fitbit and Legos. All types of balls are excellent gifts because they are unisex and children of all ages enjoy receiving them, Reppucci said.

Reppucci and graduate fellows Hallie Dowling-Huppert and Farrah Bruny at the college’s Hands to Help program, have been working with the Rev. Carlos Urbina, OSA, and St. Mary of the Assumption Parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society in Lawrence to match children and young adults with the toys.

“The generosity of people who donated has been fantastic,” Reppucci said. “We’ve very grateful.”